The world's finest art, automobiles, and antiques are sold at auction — so, too, is luxury real estate. The question is not whether to auction instead of selling traditionally; we are an added tool rather than an alternative, and in all instances, we partner with a listing broker on each sale. We know from experience that the traditional brokerage model has limitations, especially in the luxury realm. In this rarified air where the buyer pool is limited, properties simply aren’t liquid, even in healthy market conditions. Auctions provide a platform for an efficient, transparent, and competitive sale of high-end real estate, driven by a sense of urgency and our global database. Our typical auction process is twice as fast as a traditional listing.

No, we do not accept distressed properties. Our typical seller chooses to auction to control the timing of their sale.

Auctions are conducted online at InstantGavel.com. The bidding window on each property page refers to the start and end date of the auction.

We bring you the market. You submit the property details. We, in conjunction with your listing agent, promote your property with world-class marketing assets to consolidate buyer interest. The auction will be marketed with an unpublished reserve and estimated sale price for 2-3 weeks; bidding will be open for 1-2 weeks. Once the reserve is met or the high bid accepted, we move into closing which typically takes 1–6 weeks after the auction ends. See our How It Works page for more detail.

1. Instant Gavel by Concierge Auctions includes access to Concierge Auctions global database of one million property connoisseurs and top producing agents and potential exposure to Sotheby’s auction house clientele.

2. Every property receives a world-class, award winning luxury property marketing package including a property page on our proprietary online auction platform.

The property is marketed with an "Estimated Sale Price," which we believe to be a competitive market price for the property. The reserve price—the minimum you are willing to accept—cannot be higher than the low end of this estimated range. You always have the ability to accept the highest bid received if below the range.

We do not charge any fees to sellers and we cover up to 5% of all agent commissions. Our fee comes from a buyer’s premium paid by the buyer. Sellers pay agent commissions as outlined in their listing agreement and Instant Gavel will reimburse this cost at closing.

The process typically results in 2–5 qualified buyers competing for your property.

There is no minimum bid required. The property will sell at or above a predetermined reserve amount. The reserve cannot be higher than the low end of the estimated sale price.

A buyer may submit a bid at the Instant Gavel price at any point before the auction bidding is open. Other offers will not be entertained. Once bidding is open, the Instant Gavel bid cannot be placed.

Once the hammer falls, the buyer and seller are responsible for signing the Purchase and Sale Agreement within two business days of the auction closing. The buyer is responsible for submitting their earnest money deposit to the closing agent within two business days. Your designated closing agent and listing agent will conduct the closing.

If a buyer defaults, any deposits received are split between the seller and Instant Gavel. We may move to a backup bidder within 5 business days, provided the owner is made whole.

The protection “tail” period ensures we are compensated for our marketing efforts if the property is not sold during the bidding window.

The Auction Agreement clearly outlines your commitments to us and our commitments to you, allowing us to work towards a successful outcome at auction. The Auction Agreement has been reviewed by thousands of sellers, attorneys, and brokers who have engaged with Concierge Auctions over the past 16+ years.

We are an auction house and not a brokerage firm. Listing agents are necessary to manage local activity, showings, and open houses, which are vital to an auction’s performance. The majority of buyer demand filters through the local market, whether they are local or not. Managing local listings requires local expertise, therefore, having an agent greatly increases the probability of successful sale. Over two decades, we have found that local buyers often prefer to work directly with the listing agent or a local brokerage community. Buyers appreciate the ability to speak with a local agent to get a professional opinion on the property. We have never auctioned a property without partnering with a listing agent.

You may register to bid entirely online on any property page by clicking "Register to Bid." Our registration process has three steps: 

1. Verify your identity

2. Agree to the Bidder Terms and Conditions

3. Submit your proof of funds and credit card pre-authorization hold

You may register to bid entirely online on any property page on InstantGavel.com.

Registration status is visible within your bidder dashboard on our digital platform.

A reserve is the undisclosed minimum price at which a lot will be sold. If the bidding fails to reach this price, the property will remain unsold unless the seller accepts a bid beneath the reserve, which removes the reserve. The reserve is generally set as a percentage of the estimated sale price.

You can set a single bid or a max bid during registration, but it is not required.

Increments are pre-determined by the platform. The increments for Instant Gavel generally fall between $5,000 and $20,000 depending on the property. Bids below the increment can be accepted at the auctioneer’s discretion.

The Buyer's Premium is 10% of the high bid amount paid by the buyer and included in the purchase price of the property. The Instant Gavel price includes Buyer's Premium already.

Yes. Your credit card hold will be cancelled if you are not the winning bidder.

Once the gavel falls, the buyer and seller are responsible for signing the Purchase and Sale Agreement within two business days of the auction closing. The buyer is responsible for submitting their earnest money deposit to the closing agent within two business days.

Yes. Closings typically take 1-4 weeks but can be up to 60 days if the time is needed for financing. The closing date can be found in the draft purchase agreement on each property page.

We require all bidders to submit proof of funds showing qualification to purchase the property they are bidding on. Acceptable proof of funds can be a bank letter, recent bank statement, brokerage or money market account, or a pre-approval letter if financing.

Diligence documents including the purchase agreement, disclosures, title reports, and inspections are available on each property's page. All bidders are responsible for conducting their own diligence prior to bidding.

Winning bidders pay a 10% Buyer's Premium on top of their high bid to Instant Gavel.

No, you do not have to be represented by an agent to participate in the auction. If you do not have an agent and would like one, we suggest asking the listing agent of the property you are interested in to represent you in the auction. If you would like other representation, please contact us for a referral in our preferred agent network.

Bidders must register themselves. Agents can be recorded as the representing party for commission purposes and if you like, you can assign them as your bidding proxy. If you won’t be available during the final stage of the auction and need someone to bid on your behalf, we recommend setting a max bid.

Yes, you may register under a corporate entity, provided you provide the necessary identifying documents for that entity. A certificate of incorporation or other business entity documentation must be provided to link the entity name with the name of the bidder.

All sales are "as-is, where-is.” Due diligence is provided on each property page. Buyers are responsible for conducting their own diligence prior to bidding. All bids are binding and irrevocable.

VAT may apply depending on the jurisdiction of the property. If any VAT (value-added tax) or similar tax is due in connection with the payment of the Buyer’s Premium, it shall be the Buyer’s sole obligation to pay all VAT and similar taxes. The term “Purchase Price” shall mean the High Bid, excluding other amounts payable by the Buyer in connection with closing, such as customary closing costs, escrow/closing fees, VAT, property taxes, insurance, transfer fees/taxes in accordance with the Purchase and Sale Contract. Therefore, Buyer’s total obligation toward the purchase of the Property is equal to the Purchase Price, the Buyer’s Premium and those customary closing costs, including without limitation payment of any VAT in connection with Buyer’s purchase and the Buyer’s Premium. To that end, all Bidders are strongly encouraged to review the Purchase and Sale Contract prior to bidding and to consult with an attorney or other professional.

You can reset your password via the login screen on Instant Gavel’s website.

Auctions provide a date-certain, transparent sale for both sellers and buyers to prove value on any given day. The auction process adds global exposure and marketing that a traditional listing may not reach and pairs it with urgency to motivate action.

Born out of the luxury real estate industry, Instant Gavel by Concierge Auctions is an additional agent tool. We have never auctioned a property without partnering with a listing agent and endeavor to include agents in every step of the process. Commissions are paid according to the listing agreement and Instant Gavel covers up to 5% of total commissions.

You maintain your listing while we layer on a high-intensity marketing campaign and a digital bidding platform to find the market value. See the How It Works page for more detail.

The process typically results in 10-20 open house visitors and showings and 2–5 qualified buyers.

You can reach us online via live chat, by email at support@instantgavel.com, or by phone at +1-212-202-2940 menu option 5

A standard auction process takes 30 days and includes 2-3 weeks of marketing followed by 1-2 weeks of bidding. During this time the property will be available for open houses and showings.

Joining our network means joining a network of one million high net worth property connoisseurs and top producing agents and expanding your toolkit to best serve your clients. We are an added tool to help you and your client achieve maximum exposure and value for your listing. You can earn a standard commission through signing up a property, a winning bidder, or both! Work with us to gain access to a global database of high-net-worth individuals and a proven platform for selling luxury properties.

Create an auction to submit your first listing or browse our auctions to find the right property for your buyers.

You can share a direct registration link to any property with your client for them to complete the registration steps and list you as their representing agent.